Poon Hill sunrise from Ghorepani
Ghorepani is a cluster of lodges on a forested saddle at 2,860 m, reached in one or two days of walking from the road end near Ulleri or Hile. We sleep here so that the Poon Hill climb is short. Our guide wakes you around 4:30 am in October, a little later in winter, with tea, and we set off with head torches. The path is a stone stairway through rhododendron and oak, about 350 m of ascent, taking most people 45 to 60 minutes.
Poon Hill has a wooden viewing tower and a few tea stalls, and in October and November several hundred people can gather for sunrise. Our guide finds a spot on the edge of the slope rather than the tower. The panorama runs from Dhaulagiri I (8,167 m) and Tukuche Peak in the west, across the deep cut of the Kali Gandaki, to Nilgiri, Annapurna I (8,091 m), Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare. On very clear days Manaslu appears far to the east.
After sunrise we walk back down to Ghorepani for breakfast, about 40 minutes, then continue east through forest towards Tadapani or descend west to the road. Mornings at 3,210 m are cold, often below freezing from December to February, so bring gloves, a hat and a down jacket. In March and April the hill is surrounded by rhododendrons in flower, but haze can soften the view by 7 am. If the first morning is cloudy, we stay a second night and try again.
Questions travellers ask
Good to know
How difficult is the Poon Hill climb?
It is a short but steep climb: about 350 m of stone steps from Ghorepani, done in 45 to 60 minutes in the dark. Fit walkers and teenagers manage it easily; older guests should allow extra time. The harder part is reaching Ghorepani, which needs one or two days of 4 to 6 hours of walking, mostly uphill on stairways.
Is altitude a problem at Poon Hill?
Rarely. You sleep at 2,860 m in Ghorepani and spend about an hour at 3,210 m on Poon Hill. Some guests feel a mild headache or breathlessness, which passes on descent. Drink plenty of water and walk slowly on the stairs. Anyone with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor before travelling to these heights.
When is Poon Hill least crowded?
December to February and early March are quieter than October and November, with clear but cold mornings. Within the season, weekdays are slightly calmer, and arriving 15 minutes after the main group and walking a little beyond the tower helps. In April the crowds return for the rhododendrons, but the hill is still worth it for the blooms.
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